Book of Han

"Han Shu" redirects here. For the military officer, see Han Shu (military officer).

Not to be confused with Book of the Later Han.

The Book of Han is a history of China finished in 111 CE, covering the Western, or Former Han dynasty from the first emperor in 206 BCE to the fall of Wang Mang in 23 CE.^[1] The work was composed by Ban Gu (32–92 CE), an Eastern Han court official, with the help of his sister Ban Zhao, continuing the work of their father, Ban Biao. They modelled their work on the Records of the Grand Historian (c. 91 BCE),^[2] a cross-dynastic general history, but theirs was the first in this annals-biography form to cover a single dynasty. It is the best source, sometimes the only one, for many topics such as literature in this period. The Book of Han is also called the Book of the Former Han (前漢書; Qián Hàn shū) to distinguish it from the Book of the Later Han (後漢書; Hòu Hàn shū) which covers the Eastern Han period (25–220 CE), and was composed in the fifth century by Fan Ye (398–445 CE).^[3]

Book of Han
Traditional Chinese	漢書
Simplified Chinese	汉书
Hanyu Pinyin	Hàn shū
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Hàn shū Wade–Giles Han4 shu1 IPA [xân ʂú] Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Hon syū Jyutping Hon3 syu1 Southern Min Tâi-lô Hàn-tsu (col.) Hàn-su (lit.) Middle Chinese Middle Chinese xàn sho Old Chinese Baxter–Sagart (2014) *n̥ˤar-s s-ta

Contents

This history developed from a continuation of Sima Qian's Records of the Grand Historian, initiated by Ban Gu's father, Ban Biao, at the beginning of the Later Han dynasty. This work is usually referred to as Later Traditions (後傳), which indicates that the elder Ban's work was meant to be a continuation. Other scholars of the time, including Liu Xin and Yang Xiong also worked on continuations of Sima's history. After Ban Biao's death, his eldest son Ban Gu was dissatisfied with what his father had completed, and he began a new history that started with the beginning of the Han dynasty. This distinguished it from Sima Qian's history, which had begun with China's earliest legendary rulers. In this way, Ban Gu initiated the Jizhuanti (紀傳體，纪传体) format for dynastic histories that was to remain the model for the official histories until modern times.

For the periods where they overlapped, Ban Gu adopted nearly verbatim much of Sima Qian's material, though in some cases he also expanded it. He also incorporated at least some of what his father had written, though it is difficult to know how much. The completed work ran to a total of 100 fascicles 卷, and included essays on law, science, geography, and literature. Ban Gu's younger sister Ban Zhao finished writing the book in 111, 19 years after Ban Gu had died in prison. An outstanding scholar in her own right, she is thought to have written volumes 13–20 (eight chronological tables) and 26 (treatise on astronomy), the latter with the help of Ma Xu. As with the Records of the Grand Historian, Zhang Qian, a notable Chinese general who travelled to the west, was a key source for the cultural and socio-economic data on the Western Regions contained in the 96th fascicle. The "Annals" section and the three chapters covering the reign of Wang Mang were translated into English by Homer H. Dubs.^[4] Other chapters have been rendered into English by A. F. P. Hulsewé, Clyde B. Sargent, Nancy Lee Swann, and Burton Watson.

The text includes a description of the Triple Concordance Calendar System 三統曆 developed by Liu Xin in fascicle 21. This is translated to English by Cullen.^[5]

Ban Gu's history set the standard for the writings of later Chinese dynasties, and today it is a reference used to study the Han period. It is regarded as one of the "Four Histories" 四史 of the Twenty-Four Histories canon, together with the Records of the Grand Historian, Records of the Three Kingdoms and History of the Later Han.

Annals

Ji (紀, annal), 12 volumes. Emperors' biographies in strict annal form, which offer a chronological overview of the most important occurrences, as seen from the imperial court.

#	Number	Title (Chinese)	Title (English)
001	Volume 1 (Part 1), Volume 1 (Part 2)	高帝紀	Annals of Emperor Gaozu, 206–195 BCE
002	Volume 2	惠帝紀	Annals of Emperor Hui, 194–188 BCE
003	Volume 3	高后紀	Annals of Empress Lü Zhi (regent 195–180 BCE)
004	Volume 4	文帝紀	Annals of Emperor Wen, 179–157 BCE
005	Volume 5	景帝紀	Annals of Emperor Jing, 156–141 BCE
006	Volume 6	武帝紀	Annals of Emperor Wu, 140–87 BCE
007	Volume 7	昭帝紀	Annals of Emperor Zhao, 86–74 BCE
008	Volume 8	宣帝紀	Annals of Emperor Xuan, 73–49 BCE
009	Volume 9	元帝紀	Annals of Emperor Yuan, 48–33 BCE
010	Volume 10	成帝紀	Annals of Emperor Cheng, 32–7 BCE
011	Volume 11	哀帝紀	Annals of Emperor Ai, 6–1 BCE
012	Volume 12	平帝紀	Annals of Emperor Ping, 1 BCE – 5 CE

Chronological tables

Biao (表, tables), 8 volumes. Chronological tables of important people.

#	Number	Title (Chinese)	Title (English)
013	Volume 13	異姓諸侯王表	Table of nobles not related to the imperial clan
014	Volume 14	諸侯王表	Table of nobles related to the imperial clan
015	Volume 15	王子侯表	Table of sons of nobles
016	Volume 16	高惠高后文功臣表	Table of meritorious officials during the reigns of (Emperors) Gao, Hui, Wen and Empress Gao
017	Volume 17	景武昭宣元成功臣表	Table of meritorious officials during the reigns of (Emperors) Jing, Wu, Zhao, Xuan, Yuan and Cheng
018	Volume 18	外戚恩澤侯表	Table of nobles from families of the imperial consorts
019	Volume 19	百官公卿表	Table of nobility ranks and government offices
020	Volume 20	古今人表	Prominent people from the past until the present

Treatises

Zhi (志, memoirs), 10 volumes. Each treatise describes an area of effort of the state.

#	Number	Title (Chinese)	Title (English)
021	Volume 21	律曆志	Treatise on Rhythm and the Calendar
022	Volume 22	禮樂志	Treatise on Rites and Music
023	Volume 23	刑法志	Treatise on Punishment and Law
024	Volume 24 (Part 1), Volume 24 (Part 2)	食貨志	Treatise on Foodstuffs
025	Volume 25 (Part 1), Volume 25 (Part 2)	郊祀志	Treatise on Sacrifices
026	Volume 26	天文志	Treatise on Astronomy
027	Volume 27 (Part 1), Volume 27 (Part 2), Volume 27 (Part 3), Volume 27 (Part 4), Volume 27 (Part 5)	五行志	Treatise on the Five Elements
028	Volume 28 (Part 1), Volume 28 (Part 2)	地理志	Treatise on Geography
029	Volume 29	溝洫志	Treatise on Rivers and Canals
030	Volume 30	藝文志	Treatise on Literature

Biographies

Zhuan (傳, exemplary traditions, usually translated as biographies), 70 volumes. Biographies of important people. The biographies confine themselves to the description of events that clearly show the exemplary character of the person. Two or more people are treated in one main article, as they belong to the same class of people. The last articles describe the relations between China and the various peoples at and beyond the frontiers, including the contested areas of Ba in present-day Yunnan; Nanyue in present-day Guangdong, Guangxi, and Vietnam; and Minyue in present-day Fujian.^[6]

#	Number	Title (Chinese)	Title (English)
031	Volume 31	陳勝項籍傳	Chen Sheng and Xiang Yu
032	Volume 32	張耳陳餘傳	Zhang Er and Chen Yu
033	Volume 33	魏豹田儋韓王信傳	Wei Bao, Tian Dan and Hán Xin (King of Han)
034	Volume 34	韓彭英盧吳傳	Han, Peng, Ying, Lu and Wu – Han Xin, Peng Yue, Ying Bu, Lu Wan and Wu Rui (吳芮)
035	Volume 35	荊燕吳傳	the Princes of Jing, Yan and Wu
036	Volume 36	楚元王傳	Prince Yuan of Chu – Liu Xiang and Liu Xin
037	Volume 37	季布欒布田叔傳	Ji Bu, Luan Bu and Tian Shu
038	Volume 38	高五王傳	the five sons of Emperor Gao
039	Volume 39	蕭何曹參傳	Xiao He and Cao Shen
040	Volume 40	張陳王周傳	Zhang, Chen, Wang and Zhou – Zhang Liang, Chen Ping, Wang Ling (王陵) and Zhou Bo
041	Volume 41	樊酈滕灌傅靳周傳	Fan, Li, Teng, Guan, Fu, Jin and Zhou – Fan Kuai, Li Shang (酈商), Xiahou Ying, Guan Ying (灌嬰), Fu Kuan, Jin She (靳歙) and Zhou Xue (周緤)
042	Volume 42	張周趙任申屠傳	Zhang, Zhou, Zhao, Ren and Shentu – Zhang Cang (張蒼), Zhou Chang (周昌), Zhao Yao (趙堯), Ren Ao (任敖) and Shentu Jia (申屠嘉)
043	Volume 43	酈陸朱劉叔孫傳	Li, Lu, Zhu, Liu and Shusun – Li Yiji (酈食其), Lu Gu (陸賈), Zhu Jian (朱建), Lou Jing (婁敬) and Shusun Tong (叔孫通)
044	Volume 44	淮南衡山濟北王傳	the kings of Huainan, Hengshan and Jibei
045	Volume 45	蒯伍江息夫傳	Kuai, Wu, Jiang and Xifu – Kuai Tong (蒯通), Wu Bei (伍被), Jiang Chong (江充) and Xifu Gong (息夫躬)
046	Volume 46	萬石衛直周張傳	the lords of Wan, Wei, Zhi, Zhou and Zhang – Shi Fen (石奮), Wei Wan (衛綰), Zhi Buyi (直不疑), Zhou Ren (周仁) and Zhang Ou (張歐)
047	Volume 47	文三王傳	the three sons of Emperor Wen
048	Volume 48	賈誼傳	Jia Yi
049	Volume 49	爰盎晁錯傳	Yuan Ang and Chao Cuo
050	Volume 50	張馮汲鄭傳	Zhang, Feng, Ji and Zheng – Zhang Shizhi (張釋之), Feng Tang (馮唐), Ji An (汲黯) and Zheng Dangshi (鄭當時)
051	Volume 51	賈鄒枚路傳	Jia, Zou, Mei and Lu – Jia Shan (賈山, Zou Yang (鄒陽), Mei Cheng (枚乘) and Lu Wenshu (路溫舒)
052	Volume 52	竇田灌韓傳	Dou, Tian, Guan and Han – Dou Ying (竇嬰), Tian Fen (田蚡), Guan Fu (灌夫) and Han Anguo (韓安國)
053	Volume 53	景十三王傳	the thirteen sons of Emperor Jing
054	Volume 54	李廣蘇建傳	Li Guang and Su Jian
055	Volume 55	衛青霍去病傳	Wei Qing and Huo Qubing
056	Volume 56	董仲舒傳	Dong Zhongshu
057	Volume 57 (Part 1), Volume 57 (Part 2)	司馬相如傳	Sima Xiangru
058	Volume 58	公孫弘卜式兒寬傳	Gongsun Hong, Bu Shi and Er Kuan
059	Volume 59	張湯傳	Zhang Tang
060	Volume 60	杜周傳	Du Zhou
061	Volume 61	張騫李廣利傳	Zhang Qian and Li Guangli
062	Volume 62	司馬遷傳	Sima Qian
063	Volume 63	武五子傳	the five sons of Emperor Wu
064	Volume 64 (Part 1), Volume 64 (Part 2)	嚴朱吾丘主父徐嚴終王賈傳	Yan, Zhu, Wuqiu, Zhufu, Xu, Yan, Zhong, Wang and Jia – Yan Zhu (嚴助), Zhu Maichen (朱買臣), Wuqiu Shouwang (吾丘壽王), Zhufu Yan (主父偃), Xu Yue (徐樂), Yan An (嚴安), Zhong Jun (終軍), Wang Bao (王褒) and Jia Juanzhi (賈捐之); two parts
065	Volume 65	東方朔傳	Dongfang Shuo
066	Volume 66	公孫劉田王楊蔡陳鄭傳	Gongsun, Liu, Tian, Wang, Yang, Cai, Chen and Zheng – Gongsun He (公孫賀), Liu Quli (劉屈氂), Tian Qiuqian (田千秋), Wang Xin (王訢), Yang Chang (楊敞), Cai Yi (蔡義), Chen Wannian (陳萬年) and Zheng Hong (鄭弘)
067	Volume 67	楊胡朱梅云傳	Yang, Hu, Zhu, Mei and Yun – Yang Wangsun (楊王孫), Hu Jian (胡建), Zhu Yun (朱雲), Mei Fu (梅福) and Yun Chang (云敞)
068	Volume 68	霍光金日磾傳	Huo Guang and Jin Midi
069	Volume 69	趙充國辛慶忌傳	Zhao Chongguo and Xin Qingji
070	Volume 70	傅常鄭甘陳段傳	Fu, Chang, Zheng, Gan, Chen and Duan – Fu Jiezi, Chang Hui (常惠), Zheng Ji, Gan Yannian (甘延壽), Chen Tang and Duan Huizong (段會宗)
071	Volume 71	雋疏于薛平彭傳	Jun, Shu, Yu, Xue, Ping and Peng – Jun Buyi (雋不疑), Shu Guang (疏廣) and Shu Shou (疏受), Yu Dingguo (于定國), Xue Guangde (薛廣德), Ping Dang (平當) and Peng Xuan (彭宣)
072	Volume 72	王貢兩龔鮑傳	Wang, Gong, two Gongs and Bao – Wang Ji (王吉), Gong Yu (貢禹), Gong Sheng (龔勝) and Gong She (龔舍) and Bao Xuan
073	Volume 73	韋賢傳	Wei Xian
074	Volume 74	魏相丙吉傳	Wei Xiang and Bing Ji
075	Volume 75	眭兩夏侯京翼李傳	Sui, two Xiahous, Jing, Ji and Li – Sui Hong (眭弘), Xiahou Shichang (夏侯始昌) and Xiahou Sheng (夏侯勝), Jing Fang (京房), Ji Feng (翼奉) and Li Xun (李尋)
076	Volume 76	趙尹韓張兩王傳	Zhao, Yin, Han, Zhang and two Wangs – Zhao Guanghan (趙廣漢), Yin Wenggui (尹翁歸), Han Yanshou (韓延壽), Zhang Chang (張敞), Wang Zun (王尊) and Wang Zhang (王章)
077	Volume 77	蓋諸葛劉鄭孫毋將何傳	Gai, Zhuge, Liu, Zheng, Sun, Wujiang and He – Gai: Gai Kuanrao (蓋寬饒), Zhuge: Zhuge Feng (諸葛豐), Liu: Liu Fu (劉輔), Zheng: Zheng Chong (鄭崇), Sun: Sun Bao (孫寶), Wujiang: Wujiang Long (毋將隆), He: He Bing (何並)
078	Volume 78	蕭望之傳	Xiao Wangzhi
079	Volume 79	馮奉世傳	Feng Fengshi
080	Volume 80	宣元六王傳	the six sons of Emperors Xuan and Yuan
081	Volume 81	匡張孔馬傳	Kuang, Zhang, Kong and Ma – Kuang Heng (匡衡), Zhang Yu (張禹), Kong Guang (孔光) and Ma Gong (馬宮)
082	Volume 82	王商史丹傅喜傳	Wang Shang, Shi Dan and Fu Xi
083	Volume 83	薛宣朱博傳	Xue Xuan and Zhu Bo
084	Volume 84	翟方進傳	Zhai Fangjin
085	Volume 85	谷永杜鄴傳	Gu Yong and Du Ye
086	Volume 86	何武王嘉師丹傳	He Wu, Wang Jia and Shi Dan
087	Volume 87 (Part 1), Volume 87 (Part 2)	揚雄傳	Yang Xiong
088	Volume 88	儒林傳	Confucian Scholars
089	Volume 89	循吏傳	Upright Officials
090	Volume 90	酷吏傳	Cruel Officials
091	Volume 91	貨殖傳	Usurers
092	Volume 92	游俠傳	Youxias
093	Volume 93	佞幸傳	Flatterers
094	Volume 94 (Part 1), Volume 94 (Part 2)	匈奴傳	Traditions of the Xiongnu
095	Volume 95	西南夷兩粵朝鮮傳	Traditions of the Yi of the southeast, the two Yues, and Joseon (Korea) – Nanyue and Min Yue
096	Volume 96 (Part 1), Volume 96 (Part 2)	西域傳	Traditions of the Western Regions
097	Volume 97 (Part 1), Volume 97 (Part 2)	外戚傳	the Empresses and Imperial Affines
098	Volume 98	元后傳	Wang Zhengjun
099	Volume 99 (Part 1), Volume 99 (Part 2), Volume 99 (Part 3)	王莽傳	Wang Mang
100	Volume 100 (Part 1), Volume 100 (Part 2)	敘傳	Afterword and Family History

Mention of Japan

The people of Japan make their first unambiguous appearance in written history in this book (Book of Han, Volume 28, Treatise on Geography), in which it is recorded, "The people of Wo are located across the ocean from Lelang Commandery, are divided into more than one hundred tribes, and come to offer tribute from time to time." It is later recorded that in 57, the southern Wa kingdom of Na sent an emissary named Taifu to pay tribute to Emperor Guangwu and received a golden seal. The seal itself was discovered in northern Kyūshū in the 18th century.^[7] According to the Book of Wei, the most powerful kingdom on the archipelago in the third century was called Yamatai and was ruled by the legendary Queen Himiko.

Commentaries

The comments of both Yan Shigu (581–645) and Su Lin are included in the Palace Edition. The Hanshu Buzhu 漢書補注 by Wang Xianqian^[8] (1842–1918) contains notes by a number commentators, including Wang himself. Hanshu Kuiguan 漢書管窺 by Yang Shuda^[9] is a modern commentary.

See also

References

Citations

1. Notable Women of China. M. E. Sharpe. ISBN 978-0-765-61929-7.
2. Bary, Wm. Theodore de; Bloom, Irene (1999). Sources of Chinese Tradition: From Earliest Times to 1600. Columbia University Press. ISBN 978-0-231-51798-0.
3. Wilkinson (2012), pp. 711–712.
4. Homer H. Dubs. (trans.) The History of the Former Han Dynasty. 3 vols. Baltimore: Waverly, 1938–55.
5. Cullen, Christopher (2017). Foundations of Celestial Reckoning – Three Ancient Chinese Astronomical Systems. London and New York: Routledge. pp. 32–137. Bibcode:2017fcrt.book.....C.
6. Amies, Alex (2020). Hanshu Volume 95 The Southwest Peoples, Two Yues, and Chaoxian: Translation with Commentary. Project Gutenberg Self Publishing Press. pp. 12–53. ISBN 978-0-9833348-7-3.
7. "Gold Seal (Kin-in)". Fukuoka City Museum. Retrieved 2007-11-10.
8. Wang, Xianqian (1900). Hanshu Buzhu 漢書補注. Changsha.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
9. Yang, Shuda (2007). Hanshu Kuiguan 漢書管窺 (Kindle ed.). Changsha: Hunan Education Publishing House.

Sources

Works cited

• Wilkinson, Endymion (2012). ""Main Sources (2): Hanshu". Chinese History: A New Manual. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Asia Center. pp. 711–713. ISBN 9780674067158.

Further reading

• Amies, Alex (2020). Hanshu Volume 95 The Southwest Peoples, Two Yues, and Chaoxian: Translation with Commentary. Gutenberg Self Publishing Press. ISBN 978-0-9833348-7-3.
• Dorn'eich, Chris M. (2008). Chinese sources on the History of the Niusi-Wusi-Asi(oi)-Rishi(ka)-Arsi-Arshi-Ruzhi and their Kueishuang-Kushan Dynasty. Shiji 110/Hanshu 94A: The Xiongnu: Synopsis of Chinese original Text and several Western Translations with Extant Annotations. Berlin. To read or download go to:
• Dubs, Homer H. (trans.) The History of the Former Han Dynasty. 3 vols. Baltimore: Waverly, 1938–55. Digitized text. (Digitized text does not retain volume or page numbers and alters Dubs' footnote numbering.) Glossary.
• Honey, David B. "The Han shu Manuscript Evidence, and the Textual Criticism of the Shih-chi: The Case of the Hsiung-nu lieh-chuan", CLEAR 21 (1999), 67–97.
• Hulsewe, A. F .P. "A Striking Discrepancy between the Shih chi and the Han shu." T'oung Pao 76.4–5 (1990): 322–23.
• Hulsewé, A. F. P. (1993). ""Han shu 漢書"". In Loewe, Michael (ed.). Early Chinese Texts – A Bibliographical Guide. Berkeley, CA: Society for the Study of Early China & Institute of East Asian Studies, University of California Berkeley. pp. 129–136. ISBN 1-55729-043-1.
• Hulsewé, A. F. P. and Loewe, M. A. N. China in Central Asia: The Early Stage 125 BC – AD 23: an annotated translation of chapters 61 and 96 of the History of the Former Han Dynasty. Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1979.
• Knechtges, David R. (2010). "Han shu 漢書". In Knechtges, David R.; Chang, Taiping (eds.). Ancient and Early Medieval Chinese Literature: A Reference Guide, Part One. Leiden, South Holland: Brill. pp. 339–45. ISBN 978-90-04-19127-3.
• Sargent, Cyde B., Tr. Wang Mang; A Translation of the Official Account of His Rise to Power as Given in the History of the Former Han Dynasty, with Introd. and Notes. Shanghai: Graphic Art Book Co., 1947.
• Schaab-Hanke, Dorothee. Review of 'Politik und Geschichtsschreibung im alten China: Pan-ma i-t’ung 班馬異同' by Hans van Ess (Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz, 2014). T’oung Pao 102-1-3 (2016), pp. 225-235.
• Swann, Nancy Lee, tr. Food and Money in Ancient China: The Earliest Economic History of China to A.D. 25. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1950; rpt. New York: Octagon Books, 1974.
• Stange, Hans O.H. "Die monographie über Wang Mang." Abhandlungen für die kunde des morgenlandes XXIII, 3, 1939.
• Stange, Hans O.H. Leben und persünlichkeit und werk Wang Mangs. Berlin, 1914.
• Tinios, Ellis. "Sure Guidance for One's Own Time: Pan Ku and the Tsan to Han-shu 94." Early China 9–10 (1983–85): 184–203.
• Van der Sprenkel, O. B. Pan Piao, Pan Ku, and the Han History. Centre for Oriental Studies Occasional Paper, no. 3. Canberra: Australian National University, 1964.
• Watson, Burton. 1974. Courtier and Commoner in Ancient China. Selections from the History of the Former Han. Columbia University Press, New York. (A translation of chapters 54, 63, 65, 67, 68, 71, 74, 78, 92, and 97).
• Wilbur, C. Martin. Slavery in China during the Former Han Dynasty, 206 B.C.–A.D. 25. Publications of Field Museum of Natural History, Anthropological Series, 35. Chicago: Field Museum of Natural History, 1943. Reprint. New York: Russell & Russell, 1967. Selected translations from the Han shu.
• Wu, Shuping, "Hanshu" ("Book of Han"). Encyclopedia of China (Chinese Literature Edition), 1st ed.
• Yap, Joseph P. (2019). The Western Regions, Xiongnu and Han, from the Shiji, Hanshu and Hou Hanshu. Amazon Digital Services LLC - KDP Print US. ISBN 978-1792829154.

External links

• Book of Han (Full text) – Chinese Text Project
• Silk Road Seattle (The Silk Road Seattle website contains many useful resources including a number of full-text historical works, maps, photos, etc.)
• Book of Han《漢書》 Chinese text with matching English vocabulary